Portrait Lighting – 4 Tips to Shooting Like a Pro
by
Your Picture Frames
Though it may seem simple from an outside perspective, portrait lighting is one of the trickiest photography skills to nail down and takes years to master. One of the flip side, because portrait photography is so posed and planned it also make it one of the easiest to practice. If youre considering starting a studio in your garage or living room, here are a few handy tips to keep in mind before you call your subject in for the shoot.
Brighter Isnt Better
Hard, bright lights definitely make shooting a breeze and give you plenty of illumination to properly expose your photos. However, harsh bright lights are rarely flattering and should be avoided especially if you want natural results. Portrait lighting is best achieved with soft light. You can get this quality of light in the shade, on overcast days or by using photo umbrella reflectors in the studio. Soft, even light is easier to work with and will help compliment your subject without accenting their possible flaws.
Light Setup
Two lights should be enough for portrait lighting. You should use one main light to determine the tone and direction of your light, then place a second light near the camera to help offset it. This will help to soften any harsh shadows and even out the strong contrast. Another great way to achieve this effect is by placing one light above the camera and one fill reflector below the camera. Both of these solutions will give you great results with very little equipment.
Use What You Already Have
If you don’t have money to spend on a professional light setup, you can often get near-professional results by using a few desk or floor lights. If you want even more control, try using bed sheets to reflect the light around the room. Look around your house for possible lighting equipment and you may find some unique opportunities to use for your portraits.
What About the Sun?
Often times, we think of portrait photography as studio photography, but that doesn’t mean you have to be in a studio for professional results. You can get incredible results using natural light if you know how to properly use it. For instance, if you have a large window in your house, use it as a natural source of soft light. If you’re taking pictures outside, use a big sheet of white poster board (or foam board) as a reflector and point it at your subject to minimize harsh shadows.
Much like every other sort of photography, portraiture requires practice, patience, and a whole lot of love. Luckily, it doesn’t require a lot of professional equipment or a lot of money. Be creative with your materials and subjects and youll be surprised at how great the results can be. Portrait lighting is all about subtlety but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a lot of fun!
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for YourPictureFrames.com and loves picture frames. Shop online and see our selection of
multiple opening picture frames
like our
hinged double picture frames
or
hanging triple picture frames
. Visit our website or call us at 1-800-780-0699.
Article Source:
Portrait Lighting – 4 Tips to Shooting Like a Pro }